The school playground in Koumassi, a suburb of Abidjan, becomes a training ground in the holidays, and this April, Métro Star juniors were kicking the ball around in the heat. Aristide B. a former professional player, helped set up this academy. There are hundreds of programmes like it in Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital. Aristide introduced his best player, a nine-year-old. ‘I want to play in Europe,’ the boy said confidently. Did he know about the risks? He nodded.

The former captain of the Ivorian national team, Yaya Touré, earns over $1m a month at Manchester City. He belongs to a tiny international elite making over $720,000 a year, just 2% of those in the professional game, according to a 2016 survey of 54 national unions by FIFPro (the International Federation of Professional Footballers). Most play in Europe, the Gulf or China.

The reality for many African players is the antithesis of this life. They often have no contracts and terrible working conditions; 21% earn under $300 a month and 41% said they had been paid late during the last two seasons; in Africa this was 55%. Players have the least job security in Africa: 15% have no contract, compared to 3% in Europe.

Aristide B and fellow players from Koumassi told stories that illustrated the disparity between the dreams of millions of young Africans and the harsh reality. But Justin S, despite bad experiences at several clubs, wants to keep playing. He got his first professional contract in 2007, aged 17, when his monthly salary was $88, below the minimum wage in Côte d’Ivoire, $106. He never received the promised bonus of $267 for signing his contract.

‘Your mum’s got no money’

‘The [club] chairwoman would give us some sob story: “I’m your mum. Your mum’s got no money.” And we fell for it.’ Having failed a trial for a Tunisian club in 2008, he ended up in Côte d’Ivoire’s Ligue 2, where things were worse. ‘I got about $18 a month, when labourers were making $6 a day.’ To encourage (...)